Big Ben-efit: Steelers TE Heath Miller has best game of season

Steelers tight end Heath Miller had a team-high 13 targets with Ben Roethlisberger back in the lineup Sunday.

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Receiver Antonio Brown wasn’t the only Steelers player whose numbers took a hit with Ben Roethlisberger out of the lineup. Tight end Heath Miller’s stat line came back to life with Roethlisberger behind center in Sunday’s 16-10 loss the Cincinnati Bengals.

Miller caught 10 balls for 105 yards on 13 targets, all season highs. He had just five receptions for 52 yards during Roethlisberger’s four-game absence, including his first game without a catch since 2008 last week in Kansas City. Miller had taken on more pass-blocking duties while Roethlisberger was out, leaving him with fewer opportunities in the passing game.

Brown expressed his frustration to the media after having just 8 catches for 87 yards in his first two starts with Mike Vick. On the contrary, Miller quietly accepted his role and even told Brown to focus more on winning and less about how many catches he has each game.

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Brown and Roethlisberger reconnected for a touchdown on Pittsburgh’s opening drive, but the receiver only caught three passes for 19 yards the rest of the way in the loss.